Veteran actor and writer Sharad Ponkshe has hit back at Goa's Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude, who reportedly called him a "suparibaaz"—a slang term often used to imply someone working on a contract, sometimes with sinister overtones.
Reacting sharply, Ponkshe said, “Supari may be their dharma, not mine,” distancing himself from the accusation and suggesting it reflects more on his critics than on him. The controversy reportedly erupted following a recent disruption at one of Ponkshe’s performances, after which he claimed he was forced to apologize to the audience—despite being blameless.
The row has sparked political and cultural debate in Goa, with many in the Marathi theatre circuit expressing solidarity with Ponkshe.
